But what goes on in our libraries the rest of the year? We’ve rounded up our top ten lesser-known library services:

1. There are more than 3300 e-books and 2100 e-audiobooks available to download for free to tablets, smartphones or e-readers. The e-magazine service, Zinio,
also lets you read full digital copies of more than 100 magazines,
including National Geographic, Marie Claire and Total Film. And if it’s
all a bit hi-tech drop-in e-book surgeries at Central Library and Stockbridge Library have advice and guidance on how to use new technology.

2. Edinburgh’s Libraries offer a comprehensive collection of DVDs and CDs for rental, and to celebrate National Libraries Day they’re offering two for the price of one,
meaning two CDs for 60p and two DVDs for £1.20. What’s more,
music-loving library card-holders can listen to jazz and classical tunes
online for free as part of the music streaming service.

3. Spotted a book you’d like to read? Download our libraries app
to your smartphone and scan the bar code to search for it in the
library catalogue and reserve for free. Plus, the app can be used to
renew books whenever, wherever and works as a library membership card at
self-service and traditional counters.

5. Edinburgh’s libraries showcase some of the very best emerging and established literary talent with Edinburgh Reads,
a year-round free programme of author events. Catch up on appearances
from Alexander McCall Smith and the late Iain Banks – catch, amongst
other authors, on the YouTube channel.

6. Want to share your reading experience? There are a whole variety of book groups
across the city’s libraries, ranging from crime fiction readers and
teenagers to speakers of other languages. And if you can’t find what
you’re looking for, you can set up your own and borrow up to 15 copies of a title for your members.

7. The Central Library’s special collections
are home to items of international significance including The Henry
Dyer Collection, a rare selection of the 19th century engineer’s
Japanese books, photographs and prints, and the Early Photography
Collection, which features work by pioneer photographers such as David
Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson. These can be viewed by appointment or online.

8. Libraries are no longer just a place for peace and quiet. Some
of the activities taking place in venues around the city are filled
with fun and laughter, like Bookbug,
free song, story and rhyme sessions for children under four. For
grown-ups there are knitting groups, scrabble clubs and even an Italian
Circle which meets regularly for conversation.

9. Library Link
is a free bus minibus service for anyone who has difficulty getting to
the library because of age, disability or ill health. The bus, which has
wheelchair access, trained staff and Royal Voluntary Service volunteers
on hand to give assistance, will pick users up from home and take them
to their local library, where they can choose their books then sit down
for a coffee before being taken home again.

10. Want to brush up your computer skills? Twenty-two of the city’s 28 libraries offer a six-week LearnIT Beginners course, teaching the basics, including email and the internet, in addition to advanced classes and IT Buddy schemes.

City of Edinburgh Culture and Sport Convener, Cllr Richard Lewis, says Edinburgh’s Libraries are a priority for the city.

He added: “Our libraries boast a fantastic range of resources and
we’re committed to investing in and developing such an essential part
of the community. Most of us don’t realise just how much they have to
offer, and National Libraries Day is a great excuse to let people know
what they can gain from the city’s service.”

Find out what’s going on for National Libraries Day in Edinburgh on our website.

This entry was posted by Media Team on 07/02/2014.

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